The first congressional override of a veto by President Bush is good news for efforts to clean up the Anacostia River. Yesterday's Senate override vote follows a similar vote in the House November 6.
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization bill, which passed both Houses of Congress overwhelmingly in September, sets the stage for an increased level of federal support for projects aimed at restoring the unique natural resource that is the Anacostia River. The bill authorizes:
o $35 million for implementation of a comprehensive plan for the District to reduce raw sewage releases into the river
o $20 million for environmental infrastructure improvements needed to address pollution that threatens water quality and wildlife in the Anacostia River and watershed
o Development of a 10-year region-wide action plan for the restoration and protection of the Anacostia and its tributaries
The WRDA reauthorization bill grants Congress the authority to spend money on projects that would breathe new life into the Anacostia. But for the dollars to actually start flowing, substantial follow-up efforts -- including securing funding for the projects in next year's spending bill -- will be required.
